When we harvest the honey, we end up with a big pan of wax mixed with honey, dead bees (sorry, nature is real), and other detritus (nature is so real you probably don't want to know). Melting it all together with water and then cooling it down results in a block of fairly clear wax and a mixture that, when strained and boiled down, is basically a honey syrup — like maple syrup, but honey.
It's a little bitter in a pleasant way (maybe from the propolis that's in there too — very good for you), and because it's been boiled, good to use in cooking and baking.
I use it in my green tomato chutney (I've updated this recipe to include my tip that retains the component parts relatively unmushed — sorry I didn't tell you before) — and honey cake.
I love this recipe and I think you will too! I made it for the feast of St. John Paul. Honey, with its transcendent quality of a golden gift from nature and its resonance with Scriptural and liturgical imagery, will always be appropriate for any celebration!
The recipe is from Cooking with the Saints (for the feast of St. John the Baptist) and is very similar to this one from Smitten Kitchen for the Jewish New Year (I followed Deb and added the almonds, which I toasted first). I used my honey “syrup” for the honey and the brown sugar, and reduced the overall liquid by about 1/4 cup.
The cake is delicious and complex — there are so many flavors and they all go together so beautifully. Yes, you can taste the whiskey! The texture is wonderful. It's a festive cake that highlights the honey perfectly (unlike this one, which looks pretty but is blah).
Honey Cake Like Mother, Like Daughter
Preheat your oven to 350°. You can make these as loaves (3) or a bundt and a loaf, or two (very full) 8″ cakes. Butter well and line the bottoms with parchment or wax paper if appropriate. I did 8″ cakes (probably should have used my 9″ pans), sprinkling each one with the slivered almonds and freezing one for another time.
3 1/2 cups (440 grams) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking powder
1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons (about 8 grams) ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup (235 ml) peanut or olive oil
1 cup (340 grams) honey
1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (95 grams) brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
1 cup warm (235 ml) coffee (I have a big jar of espresso powder that I use for recipes like this — just reconstitute in the appropriate amount of water)
1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh orange juice
1/4 cup (60 ml) rye or whiskey
1/2 cup (45 to 55 grams) slivered or sliced almonds, lightly toasted (optional)
Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Beat the eggs and add the wet ingredients to the dry, mixing well.
Pour the batter into your pans, sprinkle with almonds if you like, and bake for 40-60 minutes depending on which size you are using.
Let the cake cool for about 10 minutes, and then turn out onto a rack (if you've topped with almonds, you have to do two flips, obviously) to cool completely. This cake would be lovely with some whipped cream, but it's perfect on its own as well.
bits & pieces
- Homeschooling resource alert! Want to get going with that garage schola? Learn chant with this self-guided tutorial. Our choir director, an expert in chant (and homeschooling father) recommends it. I noticed right away that even the exercises preserve the all-important chant “semantic” — the gentle rise and fall with a relaxed, not stressed, voice. Master this and you will be on your way (i.e. no forcing the voice, no vibrato).
- Certain ideas are repeated because we've heard others say them and we figure they must be true, for instance, that early feminists were virtuous and reasonable. One thing I've learned is that we should go back to the sources and examine our assumptions. This book review piques my interest — perhaps things aren't what they seem: “Satanic Feminism sheds a new light on the early feminist movement. It discusses neglected or unknown aspects of the intellectual connections of early feminism with Satanism in a way that nobody before Faxneld has dared to do.”
“I see no end to the current crisis that calls for homeschooling, and I am glad that the principles of Catholic education allow it and encourage it as a vehicle for the good. Nevertheless, homeschoolers need to take steps to ensure that their education program preserves the goal of traditional teaching: the perfection of the person for God’s glorification and living a life of service and sanctification in human society.”
Parents need schools, but schools need to stay in their proper sphere as support for the fundamental role and duty of parents to educate their children, and where they do not, we find ourselves in a state of conflict.
William offers three recommendations and I would qualify the last of these regarding what we can refer to in short as co-ops: for the mother of a large and young family, this well intentioned and hopeful route can represent more stress than it alleviates. Without entering into all the pros and cons here, I would caution against seeing co-ops as a panacea, and I urge families to count the cost in the encroachment on the good aspects of homeschooling — being home — and the energy expended in travel, fundraising, preparation for duties owed the group, etc. We have to be sure there is a net gain — it's important to know that when we outsource our children's education, we are not merely outsourcing for its own sake; we expect a quality return.
My recommendation would be for older and experienced parents to consider opening a school, full stop. The homeschooling movement is now old enough to be able to know what school should not be, and still have the memory of what it could be.
- Looking for good movies that add cultural value? (Comes with a study guide — maybe a great resource for your teens.)
- Thiis is what culture looks like: playing your own music and dancing your own dances! And as this filmmaker says, this isn't just in the past. People pull back the rug in their living room even now, and you can too!
- When Deirdre posted her thoughts on sending Christmas cards with sacred images, we got a note from dear Janet of Emmanuel Press. She sent Deirdre a sampling of the cards they offer, and we can report that the paper quality is high, with nice envelopes that have a good feel. I love that there is a Scripture verse inside relating to the season — Scripture is its own evangelization, along with the beauty of the image. So we wanted to add this to the resources mentioned in that post. You can order here.
from the archives
liturgical year
(The river that runs through our lives, on the banks of which our tree may flourish, is the liturgical year. That's why we post a note or two here — without this connection, our home is left without a foundation.)
Today is the feast of St. Evaristus. Upcoming, and a good occasion for honey cake, the feast of the apostles Simon and Jude!
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Elizabeth says
Similar to Deirdre’s thinking, last year I sent out a selection of Emmanuel Press cards with a small picture of the kids inside. The cards were beautiful, and I will definitely be ordering them again this year. (An added bonus is that taking the picture didn’t seem so fraught as it otherwise would, since it wasn’t going to be the focus of the card.) They let you make up your own assortment, which was wonderful because I couldn’t choose just one design. I also kept one of each of the designs to adorn our family’s prayer table throughout the season.
Angelique says
I strongly disagree with that homeschooling article.
1. A Christian family from the year300 whose sons were being educated at home by a tutor or a medieval Christian mother teaching her daughters to read, cipher, and keep house would be quite bemused to be accused of going against Western and Catholic tradition for not sending their children to school. His claims about the Catholicity of communal education make no sense compared to the actual history of what education was like for most Catholics for most of history.
2. Surely if nothing else this pontificate has taught us the folly of cherry picking a line from a papal encyclical and treating it as infallible. Compendiums have even less authority.
3. Speaking of that line, it is quite a stretch to say that because education is meant to be social and not individual that we need co ops and schools. My children are heavy users of the library and the librarians know them by name. They take dance classes and participate in clubs. They go to Mass twice a week and are taught by homilies. They are a part of their community. Unless you’ve literally got your kids locked in the basement they will be part of their community and learning in all sorts of unofficial ways.
4. God bless the parents who want schools or co ops. They can do a lot of good. But homeschooling is an equally Catholic way of living and educating your children that has been lived by many, many Catholic families throughout history who were not in a state of crisis.
J.C. says
Angelique, thank you! My thoughts exactly! I was surprised at the content of this recommended article.
Charisa E Race says
One book that I personally found interesting on feminism The Flip Side of Feminism.
Cristina says
Well, I don’t know what the Catholic history and tradition of education exactly is like, but I needed to read an article like this one today. I pulled my son out of public school three weeks ago, and I’ve been having this feeling that, academically speaking, he will be at certain disadvantage. The article was a reminder that I am doing this out of desperation, that it has never be my intention or my strength to teach math or science, for example. I simply had no option but to take my kid out of an anti-Christian environment, for his safety and the protection of his soul.
Marie says
Cristina,
I was in your shoes two years ago. Turns out my son had actually caught up to the point of doing advanced ( for his age) math. There are many resources around, especially online to help. This past week our homeschool group had a visit to a local museum nd the guide was astonished at the children’s ( not mine only but all group) enthusiasm and historical knowledge. We’re new to this, so in no way experts, but I see the change in our children desire to learn ( beside the better Christian environment).
I have friends ( far from us unfortunately) using a hybrid Catholic school (3days a la carte) started in part by former homeschooling parents,and do see some advantages to this for teaching subjects in which parents are not experts. I wish it would be more widely available.
Nicole Cox says
Very interesting article about homeschooling… thanks for sharing. It articulated some of my thoughts about why I don’t really relish the thought of homeschooling past about 6-7th grade. There are certain things that a good, solid, faithfully Catholic school environment/the families therein, can give to kids in middle and high school that a family just can’t. That is how both my husband and I view our respective high school experiences in schools we were lucky to have attended. (In the younger years, it doesn’t seem to be as important to be in a school environment, since the child’s sphere of existence is so largely centered on parents, siblings, home life, etc, and they benefit from both the grounded-ness and freedom of being at home to learn). Of course, I’m saying this only one year into homeschooling, but we’ve chosen it as the only viable option, when taking into account sub-par diocesan schools, awful social-experiment public schools, and exorbitantly expensive private Classical schools. So homeschooling it is, until we get close to middle school and can hopefully find an affordable private option.
I also really appreciate what you mentioned as a caveat about co-ops. I feel *exactly* how you describe in terms of stress just looking at the time and volunteer effort required from many co-op situations… I’m like, “One of the best things about homeschooling is that you can be *home* and not disrupt baby’s nap schedule, feel harried, etc, etc…” 😜
Margaret says
Totally agree that co-ops are just another source of stress and burnout when you have toddlers who need to be home and babies who need their naps. Now, when you’re ready to get a school started, Leila, please let us know…
I think the author of the article has a legitimate point. Historically, it is not normal for a mother to handle all of the home, childcare, and a complete course of academic instruction. Being wealthy enough to hire a full-time tutor/governess, or simply apprenticing a daughter in domestic tasks, are very different situations. Mothers who did have to do everything themselves (like Ma Ingalls and other pioneers) were overjoyed when a school became available.
Angelique says
True, but it is also a new thing historically to have a house full of labor-saving gadgets and access to curricula, videos, etc.
And his point was not that homeschooling is difficult. I agree! It was that homeschooling contradicts Catholic tradition and teaching unless in a state of crisis, which is false.
Again, if someone doesn’t want to do it, or does it but wishes they didn’t have to, I have no problem with that. They have my sympathy! But that is not what that article was about.
Dixie says
I completely agree about co-ops, but I think it’s probably primarily a personality/resources thing, as they seem to work well for the higher-energy moms I know. I find the whole idea super-exhausting. I think of my family’s homeschooling style more as “studying” than as trying to replicate school at home; instead of doing school at home, we do our studies at home. And then the kids roll around in the dirt for several hours. Excellent.
Diana says
Thank you for the recipe and the articles! I especially liked the one about the origins of feminism. I have always questioned the belief, often parroted even in Christian circles, that “first-wave feminism was good; it was only second-wave and third-wave that was bad.” Why, if it was so wonderful, did it give birth to such hideous things – divorce, contraception, abortion, etc.? The answer being that feminism was never, in any of its manifestations, good. I’m interested to see the specific details about its satanic origins, which I hadn’t heard of before.
Thanks for all you do!
Diana says
P.S. I agree about co-ops. So many seem to love them, but I find even the thought of one to be overwhelming and exhausting!
Rochelle Marshall says
In theory, I agree with your comments on co-ops. In practice, I must give a rebuttal (or at least a few caveats):
1.) For some with older children school is cost prohibitive.
2.) A group of self-selecting and supporting families can teach collectively while keeping things affordable.
3.) Scheduling efforts can be made to accommodate families with babies & toddlers.
*When my children were 5, 3, 1, pregnant we saw in a few short weeks a co-op was a dreadful fit for our family. Now 6 years and three babies later with my eldest in 6th grade, some science, writing, & Plutarch in a group class with other parent teachers has been wonderful for my big girl. Latin class is happening because we have accountability. Lunch with friends weekly is a delight. A little 3-5 year olds story & craft time is very sweet.
In all of this what has made the difference has been working with parents I already knew and trusted, knowing what we needed (community + help with some skill work).
Anyway, just my .02. 😊
PS: We mentioned Aunt Leila at our planning meeting tonight! Hope we can pull together to get you down to Chattanooga sometime soon. 🥰
mpdavis says
I found the homeschooling article compelling in many ways. And while I have thoughts about the co-op I disagreed with a different conclusion:
“ By natural law and Church authority, I have a right to see to the proper moral education of my children — but that I have children does not endow us to be grammarians. My right to secure an education does not mean I have infused talents as an educator or rights to a teaching vocation.”
Many times on this blog you have mentioned the Charlotte Mason method. This method is not alone in its endeavour to show parents that they do not have to be “teachers” in the modern and most common definition of the word (thought perhaps not the most long lasting and Christian definition).
All parents are endowed with a teaching vocation, Charlotte Mason would say. Our job is curator, and in this day in age, and I would say in a relevant way in ages past, most parents are situated to do a great job of the generalist education most kids require from elementary through high school. Our job is to lay the feast in front of our children, the feast of captain ideas and more practical and technical knowledge, through the living words of great experts and thinkers of the past and today. We all have access to that in the western world. And in other countries, an appropriate education may look different.
Our kids, many would argue, have the gift given them from God to digest knowledge as well as they are able. Our job is to put it before them. Any dedicated parent who makes the time available can lay this out before them without being a grammarian. They just need to lay the grammarian’s words before their children; lay out the historian’s pageant of history; layout the biographers captivating narrative of a great man or woman.
Our talent is god-given. The Holy Spirit is the supreme educator and we his humble servants. Our children a born learners, should we believe in their ability to attend and be captivated.
But I am convinced, like Fahey, that our catholic schools are in crisis. I agree we ought to start new home grown schools. Why? Because like Mason and other great christian thinkers, we need to to be careful not to entrench the eccentricities in our children that can lead to what in a adult we might label a “crank”. We want them to be able to think for themselves, not think within a bubble of themselves or content to give into their worst traits simply because family will tolerate them. I would agree that in later high school a school environment exposure could be beneficial – not for the shallow socialization he mentions- but for the greater benefit of being tempered by one’s peers and and recognition of what it means to live in larger society. Too early exposure to school life can be detrimental though.
A great quote from a Mason teacher from the Victorian age:
“No school advantages can make to up a child for the scope for individual development he should find at home, under the direction of his parents, for the first 8 or 10 years of life…[However], exclusive home-training continued too long tends to exaggerated individuality, eccentricity; while school life, begun too soon, tends to loss of original power and individual character.“ (Parent’s Review article 1891, England)
I’m working on getting that home grown truly catholic school started.
Thanks for sharing that through provoking article from Fahey.
citycottagesite says
Reading the homeschool article left me torn. Coming from a large Catholic community in the Twin Cities, we are blessed to know a wide range of Catholic Culture. Sadly, running a “co-operative” is a large undertaking where one must have a very resolute vision and a thick skin. Working within or with a church means exposing everyone to guidelines of Virtus, parish councils and priests who might micro manage a program they hold as responsible for closing their local Catholic schools or give broad and conflicting opinions in which to please everyone. Securing space outside the church means insurance and liability costs in addition to the rental fees. Add to this the mercurial habits of the homeschool parents who might wait well past the sign up deadlines, their lack of commitment and follow-through dooms many a program from being successful. Lastly and most lethal, in a city where Catholic and Protestant high school options are available, we see few home school students survive into their high school years. My observation is that by middle school, families are divesting themselves of educating their eldest child. By the following year, the rest of the children follow suit. It is a lonely business that takes the diplomacy of Kissinger to secure on-going social connections for the older homeschool students. In the Tradtional circles, managing a field of varied and heavy opinions on exposing their children to other home school children who are permitted to drive, hold employment, desire college educations, participate in competitive extra-curricular activities, etc can be difficult for the parents as well as the kids. More charity is required. Many families just pull back and isolate to avoid the strain. Fighting a war, even a Catholic just war, doesn’t translate well to being an Easter people. But that doesn’t mean we don’t try. We stay the course of home school.
Marlon Davis says
“The diplomacy of Kissinger”. 😂😂 Love it.
Amy A. says
I am so glad I am not the only person who found the Smitten Kitchen Honey and Apple cake to be too dry! Of course I fell asleep while nursing the baby and emerged from her bedroom to find the timer going off, so I assumed I had overcooked it. I’ll try this one next time (or her blueberry muffins, which I contend will be served warm with butter in heaven) instead.
Katie says
It really depends on the co op and the vision of the founder, whether they are worthwhile or not. Many co ops are more trouble than they’re worth but my mom started one recently. One of her main goals was to make it DOABLE and not a burden. She “thinks small” and says any growth will have to come slowly and be manageable/sustainable. There are only 2 periods and it meets every other week. There is 1 class per period for each general age group. It’s been working great so far and we all have the hope it is the foundation of something bigger to come, in the much distant future. For us to have started an actual SCHOOL right away would have been impossible. (I think many people are not up for this either.) Better to start small and do something, than to skip doing anything at all.
Rochelle says
I want to make this, but I don’t have a rye or whiskey… What alcohol can I sub, pray tell? I do have moonshine and vodka on hand. I’m more of a wine/beer girl.
Leila says
Well, you could use a strong wine (sherry or port) or even just some red wine. You could omit it. Let me know how it turns out!
Rochelle says
Thank you. I’ll try that! I’ll report back. 😊